Method and apparatus for controlling the production of a haloamine biocide

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling the production of a haloamine biocide based on direct, in-process, measurement of the oxidant content to produce a desired haloamine biocide for the control of growth of microorganisms in aqueous systems, particularly in industrial water systems, is provided.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a haloamine biocide having predetermined actives comprising:
 a) providing a source of water, an oxidant and an amine;   b) measuring the oxidant concentration prior to combining the oxidant with the amine; wherein the measured oxidant concentration is input or otherwise entered into a programmable logic controller along with the concentration of amine and the predetermined or desired actives of the produced haloamine biocide; and wherein based on the measured oxidant concentration and amine concentration the programmable logic controller calculates the amount of water, oxidant and amine required to produce the haloamine biocide having the predetermined actives;   c) contacting the water, oxidant and amine in amounts calculated by the programmable logic controller to produce the haloamine biocide having the predetermined actives.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxidant and/or amine reagent are diluted with water prior to being combined. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the haloamine includes one or more halogenated atoms associated with an amine group and possesses antimicrobial activity. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the halogens include chlorine, bromine, iodine, and fluorine. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the haloamine is a chloramine. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the pH of the resulting haloamine biocide solution to convert a portion of the haloamine from a monohaloamine to a dihaloamine. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amine source is selected from the group of ammonia and ammonium salts, and compounds comprising primary and secondary amine functionality. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the ammonium salts are salts that have a NH4+ cation and a related anion. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the ammonium salts are selected from the group of ammonium acetate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium bifluoride, ammonium bromide, ammonium carbamate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium chloride, ammonium citrate, ammonium fluoride, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium iodide, ammonium molybdate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium oxalate, ammonium persulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium sulfide, ferric ammonium sulfate, ferrous ammonium sulfate, sulfamic acid and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the ammonium salts are ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbamate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium chloride, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium sulfate, sulfamic acid, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidants are selected from the group consisting of chlorine, hypohalites, hypochlorous acid, chlorine dioxide, chlorinated isocyanurates, bromine, hypobromite, hypobromous acid, bromine chloride, halogenated hydantoins and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the hypohalites are selected from sodium hypochlorite and hypobromite. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxidant is sodium hypochlorite and the amine source is ammonium sulfate. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the produced haloamine is from about 1,000 to about 10,000 parts-per-million active chlorine. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the produced haloamine is from about 3,000 to about 8,000 parts-per-million active chlorine. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for the direct in-line preparation of a haloamine biocide having predetermined actives comprising:
 a) a probe for the direct measurement of the oxidant concentration,   b) a programmable logic controller, wherein a measured oxidant concentration, amine reagent concentration, and predetermined actives of desired haloamine biocide are entered into the programmable logic controller;   c) a pump P 1 , capable of delivering a controlled amount of water;   d) a pump P 2 , capable of delivering a controlled amount of an oxidant; and   e) a pump P 3 , capable of delivering a controlled amount of an amine reagent;   wherein the water, oxidant and amine are combined to produce the haloamine biocide having the predetermined actives.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising conduits for diluting the oxidant and/or amine reagents to a desired concentration prior to the oxidant and amine reagent coming into contact with one another. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising a pH probe capable of detecting the breakpoint of the haloamine biocide. 
     
     
         19 . A method for controlling the growth of microorganisms in aqueous systems using a haloamine biocide comprising:
 a. providing a source of water, an oxidant and an amine;   b. measuring the oxidant concentration prior to combining the oxidant with the amine; wherein the measured oxidant concentration is input or otherwise entered into a programmable logic controller along with the concentration of the amine and a predetermined or desired actives of the produced haloamine biocide; and wherein based on the measured oxidant concentration and amine concentration, the programmable logic controller calculates the amount of water, oxidant and amine required to produce a haloamine biocide having the predetermined actives;   c. contacting the water, oxidant and amine in amounts calculated by the programmable logic controller to produce the haloamine biocide having the predetermined actives; and   d. adding the produced haloamine biocide to the aqueous system.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the oxidant and/or amine are diluted with water prior to being combined.